Hinge mechanism for grave vaults



Aug. 16, 1932.

W. B. SHAFER HINGE MEGHANISM FOR GRAVE VAULTS Filed July '25, 1928 WWW Patented Aug. 16, 1932 WILLIAM` B. SHA-FER, or IITTSBRGH, 'PENNSYLVANIA .assIGNonl "ro 'rrr'rssunan ASPHALT' VAULT COMPANY A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA HINGE MEGHANISM. Fon GnAvEfvnULrs j Application' me@ fully 23, 1928. serial No. 254,883.

My invention relates to hinge mechanisms for grave vaults and particularly to hinge mechanisms for grave vaults of the concrete or asphalt type.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple andeective hinge mechanism for 'grave vaults having a separate cover whereby the latter may be accurately lowered to its closed position. Y

A further object of my invention Vis to provide a hinge mechanism for lgrave vaults that may be detachably 'l connected 'thereto for temporary operation and removed there-L from.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a hinge mechanism for grave vaults that may be detachably connected to,r

and removed from7 the vault for successive operations. Y

i Grave vaults of asphalt or concrete or a combination of these materials are usually constructed in two parts, a. main body portion and a cover forclosing the vault and that lis sealed in its closed position." It is advisable that the` cover be accuratelylocated in its closed position when the vault is to be sealed in the grave." It is impractical to provide permanent hinges for this purpose by reason of the fact that lit is desired toavoid insofar as possible the use of metal penetrating the surfaces of the vault in the construction of such devices and hinges that are sufciently strong to support and secure the registration of the cover would add materially to the cost of the'vault. n y

In accordance with the present invention; I provide hinge mechanism thatj is :of sufcient mechanical strength tosupport the cover in its raised positionand which operates to insure that the cover may be laccurately lowered to its final clsedposition for sealing. The hinge kmechanisms are arranged to be detachably connectedv to the body portion of the vault in such manner that the weight of the cover may be supported thereby. The hinge mechanismsare also arranged to rmly engage the cover whereby the weight of the latter may be supported by the hinge mechanisms and the position of the cover may also be controlled by means of ropes or cables connected to the`v hinge mechanisms. Y.

The details of construction and'- operation of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which x f Figure 1 is a view in side elevation-of a grave vaultprovided with hinge mechanisms constructed in accordance with my inven-` tion;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on line II--II of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in top elevation of a portion of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of one member of thehinge mechanism; and

Fig. 5 'fis an edge view of thev member of Fig. 4.

A grave vault 1 that is adapted to co-operate with the hinge mechanism of my 1nvention comprises a. main body portion '2 which may be constructed, forfexampla' of an outer portion vof concrete?) and an inner lining of asphalt mastic 4. The vaultA 1 comprises a cover 5 having recessed portions 6 that are adapted to receive the inclined edges 7 kof the'mainbody portion 3. n

Therear wall of' the vault lis provided with twopairs of bolts 8 'which may beanchoredin the concrete wall in any suitable manner, such, for example, as by nuts 9 and a strap 10 for insuring the proper vertical spacingvof the bolts. Y The, outer ends of the bolts -'8 are provided with heads 12. The cover 5 is adapted to be secured to the main body'portion 3 by means of a hinge mechanism comprising, two hinge bars or leaves 13 and 14. The bar 18 that is adapted to be secured to the mainvbody portion is provided with two key-hole slots 15, the larger portion of which is adapted to pass over the heads 12 of the bolts 8 andthe smaller portion .of which is adapted to receive the bolt 8. The' other bar or leal 14`is adaptedto be secured to the cover 5 by means of two clips 16 that are of substantially L-shape,V each being provided with a hook portion 17 forengaging the lower edge of the cover 5 on the front and rear. respectively, of the latter. Each of the clips `16 is provided with a stud lafffer'ivilllnorrequireadditional width 0fthe `grave in its open position. f l

In the employment ofa vault utilizing hinge mechanismsof my invention, the cover may be placed upon the vaultbeforethe latter is lowered into the grave. The hinge mechanisms arenthen placed in positionV by passing the large portions of the slots 15 in the' bars; 13" over theY hea-dsl of the bolts 8 andV forcing the bars 14 downward until the boltsl 8'- occupy the-narrow portions of the slots. The clips 16 are then placed over theV edges rofthe coverv 5 and the bar 14 is securely fastmed thereto; by the wingnuts 20.' The vau'ltwithy the cover in closed position. is next lowered. The cover may then be raised tof its; open position bysuitable ropes. connected to certain of the. rings 21 and* retained'by a pin` or other device in the grave walluntil the vaultY hasy received its contents.

When: itis desired to close the vault, the

cover is lowered'by ropes or other suitableV .means' connectedto Vthet wing nuts 20 and thev hinge mechanisms insure that the cover will return to the position from which it was raised.. Sea-ling material will have been pre` viously applied'to the edges of: the vault in' orderthat the cover may be'hermeti'cally sealed inl position. In order to removey the hinges for'subsequent; useon another vault, the wing nuts 2O are; removed andthe bar Mis raised to permit the removal of the clips 16; The bar 13 is@ thendis'connected bypulling it upward until` the'fbolts: 8*' are in the large portions of ythe slots 15, whereupon the ba-r is slipped over the,v heads` ofthe boltsSv and the mechanism is removed.

From. the foregoing, it will'be appreciated that I have provided a'hinge'mechanism that may be detachably secured toa vault andthe 'cover therefor while the'la'tter is -in'closedA position. The cover may then be raisedandA lowered( againi with the assuranc/efthat it ,will 'return to ltsproper closed position for seal-V ing. theA vault. Thehinge mechanismsmay be easily and quickly removedfrom tbe vault and employed in a. subsequent 'operation in' the Ysamef manner. f

They above-described advantages of construction and operation will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which my invention relates. YMy invention may be variously em-v bdied. For example, it'may be proposedY to fasten the upper hinge bar directly-T to the cover. by stud. .bolts embedded thereinY instead twoseparable portions, of a hinge mechanismcomprisingaimemberY adapted to be detachably connected to the exterior of one of said portions and readily removable there- `from` and secondmember adapted tobe se-V `curely` fastened tok but detachable from the exterionof. the other portion whereby the latter may besupported by said second member. and whereby thehinge mechanism may be removed when the vault is in assembled positionu' 1 2.V The combination with a' vault having af body portion andiacover therefor, saidb'ody portion havingk a plurality of outwardly exf tending headed' projections, ofa hinge mechanism on the exterior ofsaid vault for con-4 necting saidfcover" to-saidbody portionz'and.` comprisingfa slotted: bar for'detachable con-- nection to said projections, a bar hinged to the. firstv bar, two clips forv engaging opposite Yexterior edges 'of saidcoverand' bolts for detacha'blyv securing said clips to the secondf bar whereby the entire hinge mechanism Vmay be removed when the cover is in closed .position..`

' 3. Thecombination'witha vault having'a' mainl bodylportion anda cover portion there'd for, of a hinge mechanism for connecting. said cover to said body portion comprising two clips forengaging the exterior of one of said portions, a member adapted to be connectedto said clips and a second member hinged to` theA first member and adapted to be detachably connected tothe exterior of the other of saidl vault portions, whereby the hingemechanism may beconnected to and disconnected from'said vault when the cover. is in. closed` position'.

4. The combination with a vault having two parts comprising a'main body portion and a cover, of a hinge mechanism for said vault comprisinga member detachabl;7 connected to, but'readilv removable from', the exterior of the main body portion, a secondV member hinged to the first member and having openings therein, and means Vcomprising stud bolts connected to exterior of said cover for detachablyV connecting'the latter to= said second member whereby the hinge mechanism may be' removed from 4the vault when the cover vis in' closed position. l

5. The combination with al grave vault' comprising a main body portion and a. cover,

rio

of a hinge mechanism for temporarily contachably engaging the exterior of said cover,

a second member hinged to' said slotted memlio ber, and' means for connecting the second member to said clips, whereby the hinge mechanism may be connected to and removed from the vault when the cover is in its closed position.

6. The combination with a grave vault comprising a main body portion and a cover,

of a hinge mechanism for temporarily con-` necting said cover to said main body portion comprising members having keyhole slots therein for engaging projections on the exterior of said main body portion7 members hinged to the slotted members, and means for detachably connecting the hinged members to the exterior of said cover whereby theentire hinge mechanism may b e readily removed` when the cover is in its closed position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of July, 1928.

WILLIAMB. SHAFER. 

